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Gossip: Pochettino, Giggs, Lascelles, Davies

Date published: Sunday 30th October 2016 11:51

REAL MADRID EYE MAURICIO POCHETTINOWell, it was only a matter of time before Pochettino was seriously linked with a top position in Europe. The Paris St Germain job mercifully came and went, but now the Sunday Mirror’s John Richardson has linked Pochettino with the Real Madrid job.

We’re not quite sure about Richardson’s contacts at Real Madrid. Nobody is the Spanish media is making the same claim, and the Mirror’s own man in Spain Ed Malyon hasn’t mentioned it either. Clearly Pochettino would be considered were Zinedine Zidane to lose his job, but that’s pretty obvious isn’t it? He’s managed in Spain before and he’s doing a decent job at the moment.

‘Discussions have started about possible future managerial targets – and right now Pochettino is top of the list,’ Richardson writes. So, there you go.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER GIGGS LINKOh Giggsy, forever the bridesmaid. He’s been linked with Swansea, Sunderland, Wolves, Rotherham United, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Cardiff City and just about every other job that comes up in the top two divisions.

Now, the rumours have dropped to the third tier. The Mail on Sunday claim that Giggs is in the running to be Karl Robinson’s replacement at MK Dons, with the club ‘checking the availability’ of Giggs. Well, he does Monday Night Football every now and then but that’s about it.

‘Pete Winkelman is considering a change in strategy in order to raise morale and the profile of his League One club who are currently in the bottom half of the table,’ Joe Bernstein writes. ‘That means first-time managers and big names from the world of football will be considered rather than those candidates with wide experience of League One.’

CHELSEA WANT LASCELLESOoh, a surprise rumour now, courtesy of The Sun on Sunday. It’s an exclusive from Mike McGrath, and he claims that Chelsea are interested in signing Jamaal Lascelles.

We’re told that Lascelles, who joined Newcastle United from Nottingham Forest in a joint deal with Karl Darlow, is on Conte’s wishlist. McGrath also says that Chelsea will pay £18m for Lascelles.

That does seem quite a lot of money for a central defender without much Premier League experience, but Newcastle are hardly likely to let their central defender and captain leave on the cheap.

The piece casually adds that Tottenham’s Ben Davies, Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson and Burnley’s Michael Keane are all also on the radar. Isn’t their aim to win the league?

AND THE RESTLA Galaxy have been warned off trying to lure Wayne Rooney to America by former chief Alexi Lalas… West Ham have opened talks with Reece Oxford over a long-term deal… Manchester City want Juventus starlet Moise Kean and Valencia’s Kanjin Lee to join the Pep Guardiola revolution… Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City are preparing to go head to head with Real Madrid for Celtic’s £40m sensation Moussa Dembele.

West Ham have offered striker Simone Zaza to Italian side Napoli as a makeweight in their pursuit of forward Manolo Gabbiadini… Galatasaray will offer Netherlands winger Memphis Depay a route out of Manchester United… Leicester are weighing up a move for Red Bull Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita… Manchester United will decide in January whether to take up their option to extend Antonio Valencia’s contract.